Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chapter]

Are these ok to bring on a plane as part of your carry on? Does any of the xrays hurt it at all?

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

X-Ray machines are very safe these days for electronics equipment. If your afraid it might wreck it just show them and say you dont want it to go through. They should be fine with it.

Id suggest taking it on the plane. You can look after it much better. That goes for an electronics really. Id rather it be with me than some pissed off airport employee throwing my stuff around and crushing it with everyone elses luggage.

[IlIlNine]

Eh -- if you pack it properly, you can check it in. Do you think that when the hard drives were originally shipped to the distribution warehouse/retail outlet/your door/etc they were babied, coddled, and snuggled with?

Just roll it up in many layers of clothes and you'll be fine.

[rubric]

Be prepared to have it searched for anything that infringes copyright laws, such as illegally downloaded movies, songs, software. It may not happen, but there was an announcement recently that laptops (and I assume ext. hdds) can be searched and/or kept by customs.

[orosee]

I have taken many different external and internal HD through airport security. My laptop HD must have gone through the scanners at least 30 times. I had external HD with and without casings go through, never had a problem.

It might be different if you are at an obscure airport where they still use really outdated machinery. As far as I can say the popular airports cause no damage.

I wouldn't put them in the checked luggage because you need to give up control for a while and even though HD are cheap these days, if there is private/important data on it you don't want to take the risk of losing it. Empty HD is different but again I wouldn't let the electronics share the same bag as my wine bottles

[ttompatz]

[ds_fan]

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

Its not only America, but they are the ones who started the whole thing...now everyones going to jump on the band wagon.....yay.
There was a post about it a month or so ago i think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement

[chapter]

wouldnt a hidden folder get around this?

[orosee]

Hidden folders are too simple - a quick look at the properties and anyone can see for example "470 GB / 180 GB free" which is a clear hint of hidden data on the drive.

I was thinking of using a partition tool to hide the entire partion (making the drive look pristine and unavailable for normal access), then later restoring the partition data. There is normally no data loss but I have never tried it.

Encrypting the data or drive will also work but is time consuming for large drives.

Best thing is not to travel with illegal things on you, after all we won't put illegal drugs or rhino horn in our baggage.

[orosee]

BTW, the future may allow us to use "classic" drug mule technique. Small solid state drives could be put in condoms and then swallowed. It already works with USB technology (not that I've tried it myself).

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

If they take the time to look, anything can be found.